Pavee Point’s Roma Programme was set up to promote the human rights and inclusion of Roma in Ireland and work to improve access and outcomes for Roma in the areas of healthcare, education, housing, and employment, using a community development approach.
Monika and Vanessa Paszkowska sing at the opening of the Roma Genocide exhibition in Pavee Point in 2022.
Our Goals
Progression of Roma rights and health outcomes through the development of evidence based policy and interventions.
Promotion and Celebration of Roma culture and identity, based on anti racism and intercultural approaches.
The emergence of strong Roma leaders, working from community development and human rights principles.
Pavee Point at the march against racism and the rise of the far right in 2023.
Health
Pavee Point established a Roma health project in April 2022. The health development workers work in partnership with Roma to address health inequalities, and the social determinants of health through the promotion and prioritisation of Roma in local, regional and national health policy and service responses.
Contact health workers annalisa.cercone@pavee.ie or damaris.paun@pavee.ie
Employment
Under the National Traveller & Roma Inclusion Strategy specific actions are being undertaken to improve Roma access to and outcomes in employment.
In 2020 Pavee Point employed Roma Peer Researchers to research some of the main difficulties facing Roma in employment in Ireland. The report was produced in February 2022 and makes a series of recommendations in relation to Roma inclusion. Pavee Point continues to raise awareness on these issues, provide policy analysis and work with policymakers and service providers.
Roma Programme at the launch of ‘Roma in Ireland: Access to Fair and Decent Work’ in Pavee Point, February 2022.
Contact: employment workers rudolf.simonic@pavee.ie and vanessa.paszkowska@pavee.ie
Inclusion
Pavee Point represents Roma issues at a variety of levels including at national committees such as the National Traveller Roma Inclusion Strategy, with service providers and with policy makers and decision makers.
The Programme carries out awareness-raising and information sessions and works with local Roma groups to progress inclusion and is part of the National Roma Network.
Contact Community Development Workers gabi.muntean@pavee.ie and tica.muntean@pavee.ie
Jenny Liston, Programme Co Ordinator and Health Worker Bianca Tanase speaking at the launch in April 2023 of Roma Daja – a HSE info resource for Roma women produced in collaboration with Pavee Point.
Celebrating Roma Culture & History
Each year we celebrate International Roma Day on the 8th of April. This gives us a chance to remind ourselves of the Roma contribution to culture and diversity. Part of our work is also to commemorate Roma history and on the 2nd of August, we commemorate Roma Genocide Memorial Day.
In May 2022 we launched our film Romani Kultura which celebrates Roma music and features two young Roma activists.
